Cyrus Benton Coiner, Class of 186452nd Virginia Infantry Regiment

Read the Full Text Civil War MemoirsThis document, written in 1913, was sent to VMI historian Joseph Reid Anderson, Jr. Anderson was engaged in a project to collect information about all VMI alumni to date, including a record of their Civil War service. The original letter is located in Coiner's Alumni File, VMI Archives.

About Benton Coiner:C. Benton Coiner, from Fishersville, Virginia, was born January 31, 1843 and attended VMI for one year(1860-1861). At the beginning of the Civil War he served as a drillmaster in Richmond and subsequently enlisted in Company G, 52nd Virginia Infantry Regiment. He was elected 1st Lieutenant on 1 May 1862 and was commanding the company when he was wounded in action (in the head) on 18 May 1864 at Spotsylvania. He returned to duty on July 4 and was promoted to Captain 2 December 1864; he commanded the regiment in early 1865. After the war Coiner worked as a farmer and stockraiser in Augusta County, Virginia. He died in April 1919 and is buried at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church near Fishersville.

The VMI experience is framed by relevant education within a military environment. It’s an education that develops character, fosters a lifelong appreciation of physical fitness,engenders a sense of responsibility to others, and cultivates
the ability to master adversity.